Category: News & Events

The National Capital Vegetarian Association (NCVA) invites everyone to fulfil two great passions—food and animals—at the inaugural Ottawa Veg Ball on Dec. 10.

All proceeds will benefit New Moon Rabbit Rescue, and Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.

It will be an event unlike any other held in Ottawa, demonstrating that it’s fully possible to have

a great time and raise money to help animals, all the while enjoying mouth-watering vegan cuisine which will be generously provided by sponsors including B.Goods,  Auntie Loos, and more.

So dig out your classiest clothes (but please, leave the animal pelts at home) and prepare yourself for an unforgettable evening of hors d’oeuvres, dance (featuring DJ Sweet Cheeks) and laughter at Ottawa Veg Ball, where animals will be in everyone’s hearts but not on the menu.

The event takes place in December 10, 2011, from 8:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. at the Montgomery Legion, 330 Kent Street (upper floor). Space is limited to 150 people, so reserve your spot quickly!

Reservations can be made through the NCVA website, at NCVA events, or at the door.

Admission is $20 for NCVA members, seniors and students and $25 for non-members. Actual tickets will not be issued; rather, a list of pre-paid attendees will be formed and used at the door.

All ages are welcome, and alcohol will be available for purchase with ID to those who are 19+ (profits from alcohol sales stay with the venue, not to the selected charities).  Bring your toonies, so you don’t miss the opportunity to participate in the Veg Ball raffle to win some fantastic prizes.

For more information, visit www.ncva.ca, and follow the blog or Facebook for updates.

SUMMARY

Who: Put on by the National Capital Vegetarian Association

What:  Ottawa Veg Ball

When: Dec. 10, 2011, at 8:30 p.m.

Where: Montgomery Legion (downtown)

Why: To have a good time, and raise funds for two worthy charities.

Who: Everyone is invited!
What: Auntie Loo’s second birthday party
When: Oct. 15 and 16
Where: Auntie Loo’s Treats (507 Bronson Avenue), and Babylon (Bank Street, downtown Ottawa)

It’s a two-parter: On Saturday, Oct. 15, Auntie Loo will throw open the doors to her Bronson Avenue bakery between 10 am and 4 pm with lots of fun to be had. The Rideau Valley Roller Derby girls will be on hand to distribute free Auntie Loo goody samples will be available all day, and free samples from LUSH Byward Market will also be available. The cupcake photo booth will also return- get your photo taken inside or on top of a cupcake!

New this year: the Find Mattycakes human/social networking scavenger hunt with full-sized cakes to be won, as well as a fundraising vegan barbecue in support of local charity Westminster Pet Sanctuary, which is co-sponsered by The Table Vegetarian Restaurant.

The party continues on Sunday Oct. 16 at Babylon Night Club from 7 pm until 11 pm. For a $5 charge, audience members will be treated to the burlesque stylings of Miss Helvetica Bold (of Rockalily Burlesque) and Calamity Kitten, Rock n Roll courtesy of local band, Big Dick, Dream Pop courtesy of local band, Lipstick Lesbian, tunes by local DJ Skid Vicious, not to mention free Auntie Loo samples all night, prizes from great local businesses, and a full size cake will be up for grabs!  Proceeds from this special evening will benefit Westminster Pet Sanctuary.

“Thanks to community support, we have grown in leaps and bounds over the past two years, and we want to celebrate that! But it’s important to give back to the community, and to support those who are trying to do good.  Animals have a very special place in my heart, and Westminster cares for some of the very neediest,” says Amanda Lunan, aka Auntie Loo.

Auntie Loo’s is no ordinary bakery; it sells only vegan freshly-made baked goods, made with mostly organic ingredients.  It opened two years ago to serve its growing clientele, and business is booming. The bakery is a shining example of the success that can be had by local businesses that provide a quality, ethical product. While it may bear Auntie Loo’s name, it is truly a team effort, and she takes customer service seriously in a way you won’t find at a big box store.

“In my wildest dreams I never envisioned such amazingly beautiful wedding cakes, a devoted staff who I’m so lucky to have, and probably the nicest clients in the city.  I get emotional just thinking about it,” Auntie Loo says. “I want thank each and every one of my staff and customers for making it possible to do what I love, be with people I love, meet new people everyday and getting to work with the best business people in this city.”

The authour of this post would especially single out the insanely talented Miss Kate, Auntie Loo’s cake decorater, who also happens to have the world’s most ridiculous cat (pictured above).  Also, check out one of her cakes:

The NCVA has participated as an exhibitor at the Ottawa Eco Fair for years, and we were there again in full force yesterday, Saturday Sept. 17.

Our volunteer cookie bakers baked late into the night to prepare bite-sized deliciousness to entice people over to our table to talk to us about the many benefits of plant-based diets. I’m beginning to think that Earth Balance should be paying us for every time we answer the question, while savouring our cookie creations, “What do you use instead of butter?”

It was a good day all-around, and a good opportunity to talk to people, make connections, become better acquainted with each other, and wave at Miss Kate and Auntie Loo who were across the corridor from us selling goodies.

A big thank you to our tabling volunteers: David, Markey, Erin, Neil, Amanda, Shaun, Kim, Josh, Shannon, Erica, Isabelle, Len, Raphael, Madeleine, and Michelle! We always receive so much good feedback about how friendly and helpful our volunteers are, and yesterday was no exception.

And thank you as well to our cookie bakers, who baked more than 500 cookies and other treats! The feedback on those was stellar, as usual!

As most of you know, the NCVA marched in last Sunday’s Capital Pride Parade. Thanks again to David Fournier for making it all happen!

Proud NCVA representatives, variously disguised as cows, peas, and carrots, marched under the banner “Peace for all who live.”

Our goals:
1) To support GLBT pride;
2) To advertise the NCVA to the GLBT community and its supporters (and the one guy with the bible-scripture placard which I couldn’t read from where I was but which presumably asserted that being gay is bad);
3) To encourage people to constantly examine their beliefs, since dumb ones can heap serious suffering on what should be beautiful lives.

Masses of parade-goers we’re completely blown away by the lovely Dulce Darling. Unspeakably graceful in 6-inch stilettos, she is the new gold standard for “tall, gorgeous blonde,” and also my new crush. Given she’s a gay man who was dressed as a woman at crush onset, my mom says my smitten-ness just makes me a masochistic straight girl, My dad, however, insists that it places me in a unique and heretofore unrecognized category of sexual orientation that could totally become a thing.

Unfortunately, several parade-goers were also blown away by the fringes of hurricane Irene. Happily, our marchers were spared this fate, being weighed down by bellies full of vegan donuts.

Also on the upside, Irene’s shadow ensured that none of the usually-hidden body parts on display at the parade had to pay for their brief freedom with sunburn.

On the whole then, a successful and inspiring event. We look forward to participating again next year when, once again, we’ll spread the pro-veg message and tell the world that vegans really do taste better (like donut, I hear).

As you all must know by now, the NCVA is marching in the 2011 Capital Pride Parade this Sunday (August 28th).

Now, I didn’t plan the event this year –  NCVA darling David Fournier did all the work this time. Still, I figured I’d take advantage of the fact that I have the password to the NCVA’s blog to strongly encourage all Ottawa veggies to join us in this day of marchy vegan fun.

You’ll be promoting your beloved NCVA, supporting a population that has been treated very badly for deeply stupid reasons, and highlighting the parallels between the plight of animals and oppressed human groups…All whilst surrounded by lively music, adoring crowds, and outfits at once elaborate and very small. 

Plus there are the donuts.

Once a year, just for this event, I make a batch of vegan donuts. Yes, the real, yeast dough, deep-fried donuts. 

So please come and march with us.

I mean, don’t feel bad if you can’t or anything. We won’t be mad. And if I saw you on the street after I’d still be nice and would maybe even give you a leftover donut.

Actually, what I’d really do is that thing where you start to hand something over like you’re going to give it to a person then just stuff it in your own mouth and make whatever sound “HAHAHAHA” sounds like through a mouthful of donut.

Just kidding! In all seriousness, though, march with us if you can and if not, no prob. I won’t even call you a homophobe.

…Not to your face anyway.

*Sigh – they say I have to write: “The above is Erin thinking she’s funny and does not represent the views of the NCVA or its members, who all wish she’d grow up”